The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-22
DOROTHEA L. DIX.
Some Facts of Interest from the Life of This
Late Phiianthropist.

Some Facts of Interest from the Life of This
Late Philanthropist.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Miss Dorothea T. Dix, the eminent philanthro-
pist of this country. died Tuesday at Trenton,
n. }. She was born in New Hampshire, and at
an early age began to manifest a phian thropic
interest in the afflicted of the human She
began her usefulness IN life teaching school, and
the aptitude for her calling well dis
played that she was induced to open school of
her own in Worcester, Mass Her grandmother.
in the city of Boston, owned large amount of
property. and her interest in the grandchild's
success soon opened the way to magnificent
school in that city of longgrowing culture.
Miss Dix enlarged the training department. for
girls and boys, and added to it boarding school
Among her bright pupils who afterwards
fame were George B. Emerson and Joseph Hale
Abbott She was a woman Of the most extra
ordinary executive ability. She was nice in
every detail of furnishing house and keeping
it commodious, healthy and clean. She was in
tie abit of going to the markets herself for the
purpose of supplying the table of the boarding
house. and the very best and most choice articles
of food were objects of her selection. And
the school gained widespread reputation as it
was conducted on the old time Latin principle
Mems sana in corpore sano." Her charity was
extended to the care of two younger brothers.
who looked up to her unto mother.
The Boston school closed in the spring Of 1897
Mrs. Keller. of this city. OF her pupils
and she ever holds this fact in grateful remem-
brance.
As a teacher, she had wonderful insight into
the cha and disposition and nature of her
pupils. She was Unitarian of the old-fash-
Toned school, and a lifelong friend of Rev. Dr.
Charming Besides the conduct of her school
and the N anagement of the Housekeeping in an
extensive boarding-shool, she had supervision of
two rnissi on schools and one Sunday school in
the city of Boston.
After the close of her Boston school she made
trip to Europe, which was of short duration
She returned, and interested herself IN the pau
per question: at that time prominent in the New
England States. The evil of pauperism was
that the poor would be sold by State sanction to
vvhn offs m hon I'd f0r fho Loo
amount of money. Miss Dix spent several years
in ascertaining all the facts. She travelled from
place to place. examined the prisons, visited the
jails, and noted everything carefully. From her
information thus received she wrote out reports
which she su omitted to the Legislatures of the
several New England States They were after
wards mainly through her exertions. submit
ted to nearly all the other States of the Union,
and it will be to her lasting fame and glory that
these abuses practiced against paupers were
not only ameliorated, but practically abolished.
In the next place the phiIanthropc spirit of
Miss Dix directed to the management of the
insane asylums and the amelioration of the
diton of insane throughout the region of the
United States. Through her well directed in
fuence abuses we're corrected in many in
sane asylum, Shortly before the civil war she
went to Europe and on the continent, too, she
Investigated the condition of the poor and insane,
and in the pursuance of her charitable work she
became acquainted with the heads of the most
prominent charitable institutions and the emil
neDt philan thropists of the old country. In the
Crimean war she became acquainted with the
famous Florence Nightingale. Mrs. keoler, or
this city, Of her trips to the continent,
witness to the highest encomiums paid to
Miss Dix by distinguished English general.
Mr.. Rathbone, member of the English Parlia-
ment. interested himself deeply il her work.
year ago last March she wrote for Mrs.
Keller She had then been ailing for four or
FIVE years. Mrs: Keoler upon her arrival was
requested to make inventory OF her effects.
1t was easily made everything was found ar
ranged in the incest order
Miss Dix quite an suthoress. Besides her
many reports charitable institutions she
composed some seventy hymns, and among her
works in book form are Conversations on Com
mon Things" and the Garland of Flora" She
was much interested in the success of the
Hampton Academy, Virginia. near Fortress
Monroe, and chiefly the instrument of build
ing magnificent monument for the Union
soldiers near the fortress.
She died over ninety years Of age, and will be
buried in of tho Boston cemeteries She
certainly leaves behind the reputation of grand,
and noble and phianthropic American woman
the like of whom has seldom graced the boun-
ties of this Nation